Since the time immemorial, men have been using plants as medicine in various diseases. Herbalism is a subject with a long history. We know that animals, in various kinds of ailments turn to plants which they know, perhaps, the primitive men happen to cure in much the same way by trial and error. The result being passed on from one generation to the next.

Morphology of plants, fruits, leaves and flower, cure the disease of the body part, to which they resemble. Anemone hepatica cures liver disease (liver shaped leaves). Physal-is alkakengi cures complaints of bladders (baloon shaped calyx), etc.

Seeds of B. laciniosa resemble to "Shivling" symbol of God Shankar, were used to cure sterility cases as well as to get male child, in prehistoric age. B. laciniosa which is a member of Cucurbitaceae family is a climber which is abundantly found in India. Fmits are purpule in colour with white patches and huge quantity of mucilaginous substance. Seeds are produced in the month of December and January.

Active principle of B. laciniosa has got property to regenerate germinal epithelium in both male and females to produce their reproductive organs like ovum and spermatozoon. Properties described in ancient text is harvested in this study.
MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty couples were selected on the random basis those who were suffering from primary sterility, secondary sterility and mothers of unisex children (girls) and in need of male child. Only those couples were selected whose females had not attended the age of menopause. They had their regular menstrual cycles of 28 days ± 5.

In cases of females they were primarily investigated for leucorrhoea, vaginal infection, V.D.R.L. test and Rh negative blood grouping to avoid intra-uterine complication to foetus and Rh incompatibility to subsequent pregnancy.

Drug preparation

Matured and healthy seeds of B. lao'iniosa were collected dried and powdered. After the completion of menstrual cycle of female, couples were given 2.5 gms of powder with fresh Cow's milk to both the partners for 14 days early morning in empty stomach.

Couples were advised to commence their mating by 8th day after the oral administration of drug. Females were advised to put themselves in opisthotonic position for an hour. This procedure will be continued till gestation takes place.

EFFECT OF THE DRUG
Orally given powder may cause nausea, vomiting and slight gastric upset to the female. But these symptoms disappeared after 3 to 4 days after the commencement of the powdered drug. After full term delivery non-foetus did not show any complication or toxicity. All gravidae delivered with normal labours.

OBSERVATION

Fourteen cases of primary sterility were treated with this dri.g. Eleven of them conceived and after successful concept ons nine of them delivered male children four of them not conceived due to cystic ovary, diadalphus uterus and pH alteration of vaginal canal one delivered female child.
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Goitre can be cured by herbal treatments in Ayurveda. To achieve the goal of W.H.O. upto 2000 health for all could be achieved by the curative treatments available in Indian systems of treatment from Ancient times.

History of disease

The disease is most common in hilly and forest areas. Also, it is found hereditary, in poor illiterate persons, and in persons who are using tank water.

Cause

Iodine deficiency is main cause in hill areas. Poverty, malnutrition and heredity are the common causes. It is found common in both the sexes, 1ft pregnant mothers it is more dangerous. Infected mothers with gditre generafy gives birth to disabled children.

Symptoms

Gland or swelling over the neck; physical and mental development is blocked. Effects are found over Liver, heart, muscles, kidney, etc. Patients are found weak and lazy. Dry skin and constipation are the main symptoms. Cold and hot weather is unbearable to such patients.
In Ayurveda, "Malnutrition" is very common symptom of Goitre. Three types of goitre has been mentioned in Ayurveda:
(1) Vataz     (2) Kafaz     (3) Medaz Pathology
Air passage is covered by swelling of glands over neck. Physically and mentally ill developed.

Preventive measures
Iodized salt should be served.
According to Ayurveda diet should be protected seriously.
Adulteration in diet and marketing of ordinary salt to be strictly prohibited.
Education, personal knowledge and publicity should be done about the disease.

Ayurvedic treatment

1.      Kachnar Guggul -    3 tabs morning evening
with Triphla Kwath.
2.  Praval pisti 1/2 gm. Ras Manikya 1/4 gm.

With milk twice a day.

3. Local application on swelling of neck.
Local application:
Guggul (Commiphora mukufl
Raswanti    I
Sulphur    i
Udumber [Ficus racemosa)
4.      Argwadh seeds:      At bed time with hot water to
(Amaltas)    remove constipation.

[Cassia fistula) or
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and other, plants to be used with Gomootra.

Water, Groundnut oil as Enema.

Diet:    Milk, Green vegetables, Sitaphal
{Anona squamosa) Carrot, Onion, Lahusun, Rich diet should be taken, if possible.

Restricted diet:       Fish, Ladys-f inger, Cauli-f lower, Cabbage, Arabi, Shaljam, Urad, Gram Dal, etc.

Other Treatment:     Surgery is also possible now-a-days.
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Most of Indian population live in rural areas. These areas are rich in vegetation. The people of these places suffer from various common diseases like tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, etc. Due to diabetes great loss occurs to human life. If it is detected at early stage the cure to this disease can be done even by using locally available plant species. In allopathic treatment it can be controlled by insulin which is a small protein containing 51 amino acids.

Diabetic persons show the symptoms of polydypsia, poly-phagia, poly-urea, numbness and increase amount of sugar in blood. The increase in sugar can be worked out by glucose oxidase/peroxidase method. In normal person the amount of sugar in blood is 120 mgm/dil. (Fasting) and post meal below 180 mgm/dil. In acute stages this blood sugar goes up to 270 mgm/dil or even more.

Arerhi and Sewania the villages selected for the study are situated in the vicinity of Bhopal (about 8 Km.). The Jamun plants are very common in these villages and Karela is a common vegetable (fruit) being grown by the villagers. Case history of 20-people was studied in the year 1992-93 who were suffering from diabetes. They showed 250-280 mgm/dil post prandial blood sugar. Twelve persons were selected for the test. They were treated for lowering the blood sugar by using the extract prepared from Karela and Jamun.
Karela (Momordica charantia) (Family-Cucurbitaceae): 250 gm of Karela were washed and peeled off. The peeling was crushed and sieved with muslin cloth. A half cup of this juice was given to the patients thrice a day for one month.
Jamun (Syzygium cumini) (Family-Myrtaceae): The dried seeds of Jamun were powdered. A tea-spoon of this powder was given to the patient with water in empty stomach condition. This treatment was continued for one month. The dried leaves of Jamun were used for the treatment of diabetic patients in Brazil.

The patients treated with Karela extract showed fall in blood sugar from 270 to 185 within 4 months.

The patients treated with Jamun extract also showed positive effects. They showed lowering of blood sugar from 270 to 190 mgm/dil.

From the above results, it can be concluded that the extract prepared from Karela is most effective in lowering blood sugar. Experimentally aqueous extract of Karela was also tested on alloxan diabetic rats. The significant fall of blood sugar after 3 weeks was observed.

Regular check up of these patients under controlled diet showed constant level of sugar in the blood.
*28\218\2*

Dreams can, in a limited way, betray our condition of health and help us discern what illness may lie dormant in us. Dreams of being chased while the facing wind holds one back from escaping can indicate blood congestions that require attention. Oppressive dreams may be the result of lying uncomfortably so that the limbs go to sleep, or indicate that the bedroom is too hot or badly ventilated. These dreams often wake you up and you are then able to solve the problem.

It is not surprising that intelligent doctors assert that music has a soothing influence on their patients when under stress and in pain. It relaxes cramped muscles, improves the function of the glands and influences good digestion, which is directly dependent on glandular secretions.

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If someone maintains that our ancestors were tobacco smokers too, he is actually quite mistaken. The widespread habit of smoking is not very old. True, we know that the North American Indians used to smoke and so did the people who lived where tobacco was grown, on the various Pacific islands, but tobacco was brought to other countries only through maritime traffic. Our ancestors in the West did not know the tobacco plant, and it is amazing how fast it spread over the globe and got a hold on people, making them think that they could not live without smoking. Somehow the idea developed that you are not 'with it' or lack credibility if you do not indulge in smoking. It is not surprising that Dr A. H. Roffo, a university professor, wrote: 'I consider tobacco a narcotic such as cocaine, morphine, opium and other drugs. In my opinion, tobacco is much more dangerous, for the number of people who are addicted to cocaine, morphine, etc., is ridiculously small in comparison to the ever-growing number of tobacco users. Besides, cocaine and morphine addicts, more often than not, are sick people, while tobacco, for the most part, attracts healthy young people.' Although narcotics are much more dangerous than tobacco, the latter is a far greater menace to our health because it has become so widespread. Since the 1970s the proportion of women smoking has grown steadily, but the female body is even more sensitive to such poisons, posing great risks and producing disastrous consequences during pregnancy and lactation.

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Professor Abderhalden has discussed yeast and yeast extract in his publications, even calling them a kind of vegetable insulin. Yeast and yeast extract have a stimulating effect on the pancreas if it is not functioning properly and the internal secretion is upset, that is, if the islets of Langerhans are weak and do not secrete sufficient amounts of insulin. Diabetics should therefore use yeast extract for seasoning and as a sandwich spread, with a topping of sliced onions, in order to benefit from the sulphur they contain.

Yeast extract and yeast itself should only be taken in small but frequent quantities.

I would like to stress that 'live' yeast has certain disadvantages for those whose intestinal flora is disturbed. When the yeast cells, a kind of fungi, reach the intestines they usually cause fermentation and flatulence, although this is not a problem when the intestinal flora is normal. If you are sensitive, take yeast extract, which is also much more convenient to use as a spread and in stews, soups and the like. Simply dilute the extract in warm water.

*1098/28/1*

All these deliberations urged me to find a solution to the bread question that would comply with all the requirements I have mentioned. Many years ago I carried out a series of experiments with the help of a master baker. I decided to use not only wheat, but also rye, because of its high fluoride content. As a rule, the bread we eat is mainly made from wheat, but rye is particularly important for the teeth and bones. In areas where much rye bread is eaten, good teeth and excellent bone structure stand out as a characteristic among the people. There is no doubt that rye bread and rye cripsbread lay a healthy foundation for this.

On the other hand, wherever white bread is now consumed, deficiencies have developed to such an extent that dental caries and other problems affecting the teeth and bone structure are very much in evidence, sometimes as early as in the first generation after the changeover.

*1028/28/1*

At one time there was not much one could do about conjunctivitis and dehydration of the cornea caused by vitamin A deficiency.

While it was more common in infants and small children, adults were sometimes affected too. Vitamin A deficiency also predisposes one to pulmonary ailments, pneumonia, inflammation of the middle ear, suppurations and abscesses. So where do we find this important vitamin? In butter, cod-liver oil, dandelion leaves, stinging nettles, parsley, savoy cabbage and carrots. Fruits which contain the most vitamin A are apricots, dates and rose hips.

Vitamin A deficiency in children and adults can quickly be rectified by taking Vitaforce, rose hip conserve and date sugar. Children and patients whose assimilation is poor should take the condensed juice of organically grown raw spring carrots (Biocarottin), which has the additional advantage of being a liver remedy.

Natural food serves our purpose much better than anything else. To illustrate, 1 g of mother's milk contains 2-5 international units (IU) of vitamin A; the same amount of blackcurrant juice, 3-5 IU, and rose hip conserve, 60-100 IU.

*958/28/1*

Embedded in the pancreas we find some peculiar cell formations, shaped rather like blackberries. They are actually small glands, but not in the least connected with the other glands. Like islands in the bigger gland, they are called the islets of Langerhans, after their discoverer, Paul Langerhans. The vital substance insulin is produced in these small glands and sent straight into the blood, not the small intestine. If these islets do not manufacture sufficient insulin, the glycogen, the sugar stored in the liver and passed on to the blood in accordance with the body's need, will not be burned up, so that the blood sugar level rises. The excess is excreted through the kidneys, which is why sugar is found in the urine. This is a symptom of the disease known as diabetes.

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Sometimes it appears that worm remedies have been ineffective, because after a short time the parasites may be noticed again. However, it does not follow that the remedy was necessarily at fault; it is more than likely that reinfection has taken place. This happens during the night in a warm bed, when the tiny worms leave the body and deposit their eggs in the minute skin folds near the anus. Itching sets in and naturally the child begins to scratch, only to get the eggs under the fingernails. Since children have the habit of putting their fingers back into the mouth, the eggs are transferred back into the digestive tract. It is also possible that the microscopic eggs had been shaken from the sheets when the bed was made, dispersing them into the air, from which they were inhaled together with the dust from the room.

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